Piper Computer Kit Review – The Best STEM Gift for kids!

Disclosure: We received a Piper Computer Kit for editorial consideration. We only write about products we truly endorse, and this one blew us away! Highlights Along the Way is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

We love to encourage anything STEM related in all of our kids. Today we are sharing about our experience with the Tech Toy of the Year 2017. We think the Piper Computer Kit is the best gift for kids that are interested in STEM. If you have a kid that loves computers, coding, or Minecraft, you have to read our Piper Computer Kit review!

So what exactly does the acronym STEM stand for? STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Discussion of STEM-related programs has become a presidential priority because too few college students are pursuing degrees in these fields. While these ‘nerdy’ fields of study were mocked during my generation, I think many of us have seen the error of our ways. We are back to an age where we are celebrating science, technology, engineering, and math.

What’s even more encouraging is we are seeing that more and more girls are being encouraged to study science and math. Both of our big kids won a scholarship to a local STEM summer camp last year. Both big kids love anything science related and they love to encourage their little sister to think like a STEM kid too! I love seeing our girls and our son really exploring these areas of study with excitement and enthusiasm.

My son is especially into every aspect of STEM. His favorite subject is coding and last year he was known as the kid who could fix the classroom computer when it was hung up. He is regularly asking to take things apart and put them back together. He loves to read about science and mysteries. He doesn’t particularly enjoy math, but he is very good at it. Now that he sees how math is used with coding he is even more motivated to grow as a mathematician.

The kids all flipped their lid when they saw the Piper Computer Kit! Because my son is the resident coder and will not stop talking about Minecraft, he was put to task to test out this cool toy that showed up on our doorstep. It sure sounded cool, but would this computer kit actually work? The Piper Computer Kit won the Tech Toy of the Year for 2017 and it is easy to understand why.

The Kit teaches kids to Build, Code, and Create. (Below is from the Piper Computer Kit Amazon Page)

BUILD

Your budding inventor can assemble the 50+ puzzle-like pieces to make a beautiful wood case and power-up boxes. The kit comes with full scale blueprint instructions. Assembling your first computer is challenging and fun, so teamwork and cooperation is encouraged!

CODE

Each kit comes with the Piper learning system that teaches kids engineering and programming through a combination of engaging storyline, physical building, and Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft challenges. The increasingly challenging levels help teach new electronics and programming concepts step by step.

CREATE

Through Piper you can assemble complex electronic circuits and make programmable modules that interact with your modules that interact with your Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft world. You can build real, physical electronics such as buttons, switches, LED lights, sensors, buzzers and more to design your own Minecraft dashboard which allows you to better control your character in the game.

Our son is eleven and he thought this was an awesome gift for his age group. We read that Piper is designed to grow with your child. While kids from 8 to 9 enjoy the assembly of the components and building in Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft, children from 9 to 13 love programming new gadgets and levels. I feel that this 8 – 13 range is accurate, our son would have been able to follow the instructions easily a few years ago and it is sure to keep him entertained for years to come. If your child is into Minecraft and STEM, this is such a great learning toy!

While the price tag definitely qualifies it as a “Big Present” gift idea, it is really unique.

About the product

Hand-crafted wooden computer case with lcd screen monitor

Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft adventure play with hardware components and challenges

Thank you to the folks over at Piper Computer Kits for sending us this kit for review. We were not required to post a review, but this toy truly blew us away and we would honestly recommend it to anyone who enjoys STEM! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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